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micromega123 Loyal user 212 Posts |
Does any have any recommendations for books on the paranormal? I am particularly interested in the history of paranormal studies.
Many thanks! |
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Jerskin Inner circle 2497 Posts |
There are so many! I like Joe Nickell's books on debunking.
Go to your library & put paranormal into a keyword search.
GrEg oTtO
MUNDUS VULT DECIPI |
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DN777 Veteran user 360 Posts |
"The paranormal" is a very large field. You may wish to restrict your studies to a particular area. Are you interested in spirits and astral travel? Or maybe you like the Russian research on remote viewing and remote influence. Some people like the idea of hauntings and ghosts, while others try to appeal to the more intellectual aspects of the paranormal such as EEG readings, galvanic skin response, subliminal technology, etc. If you can narrow it down to what you like, I can definitely offer you some suggestions.
- Dann |
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micromega123 Loyal user 212 Posts |
Yes, I should have been more specific . Specifically, I would say things like remote viewing, and ESP.
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DeadDave Regular user Atlanta, GA 176 Posts |
One from each side of the fence:
Remote Viewers: The Secret History of America's Psychic Spies (1997) by Jim Schnabel Available on Amazon for 1 cent. I really enjoyed this one. Interesting stuff. Also, A Skeptics Handbook of Parapsychology (1985), edited by Paul Kurtz, $7.00 Editorial review from Amazon: "This is the first comprehensive collection of essays by many of the world's leading sceptics and parapsychologists. It combines a detailed history of parapsychology and psychic research with a broad view of the current status of the field.Where does parapsychology stand today? Is parapsychology a science? Has ESP been demonstrated? Does psychic power exist? What do the sceptics have to say about the work of J. B. Rhine, S. G. Soal, the British Society for Psychical Research, and other research in parapsychology? How do they view such well-known "psychic" personalities as Eusapia Palladino, the Fox sisters, and Uri Geller? What are the sceptical evaluations of extrasensory perception, psychokinesis, ghosts, near-death experiences, life after death, poltergeists, "psychic detectives," and other paranormal claims? Although a large majority of the essays have been written expressly for this volume, some classical sceptical pieces are included, such as the confessions of Margaret Fox Kane and Douglas Blackburn." You can spend quite some time with this book! I've used some ideas out of this book for my own performances. You can also use it prove that gravity exists. It's a huge book! |
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ddyment Inner circle Gibsons, BC, Canada 2499 Posts |
If you're serious about looking into the paranormal (i.e., not just looking for debunking books, but at something with a more balanced presentation), I strongly recommend Dean Radin's The Conscious Universe as the place to begin. His more recent Entangled Minds is also very good (and I certainly recommend it as well), but I would begin with the earlier volume.
Most of those I hear (or read) talking about studies of the paranormal have almost no understanding of what's actually going on in this field; they are instead talking about ideas and claims that are firmly rooted in the previous century. These books will give you sufficient insight to be able to hold your own in any conversation about current paranormal thinking and studies.
The Deceptionary :: Elegant, Literate, Contemporary Mentalism ... and More :: (order "Calculated Thoughts" from Vanishing Inc.)
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bobser Inner circle 4178 Posts |
I don't know where you're based but I would suggest you contact something like 'The Psychic News' perhaps, based in the UK
Bob Burns is the creator of The Swan.
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Chris K Inner circle 2544 Posts |
Thanks for the heads up, Doug. I've been reading fiction since the big last non-fiction work I read. The last non-fiction book I read was "The God Delusion" so I need to balance it out with something taking a different point of view and this seems to fit the bill perfectly.
I know it is slightly off-topic but... In terms of fiction, somebody recommended the Song of Ice and Fire series, which hasn't been super interesting so far (400 pages into the first book). I know it has a huge worldwide following, should I continue giving it a chance? |
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DN777 Veteran user 360 Posts |
For ideas and presentation:
- David Icke: Children Of The Matrix - Master Chunyi Lin: Born a Healer - Peter Kelder: Ancient Secret of The Fountain Of Youth - Deepak Chopra: Synchro Destiny - Major Ed Dames: Technical Remote Viewing - Robert Bruce: Treatise on Astral Projection - Aleister Crowley: The Book Of The Law I like to be familiar with all things fringe. Typing things like Qigong and Yoga yields interesting results on Pubmed, so you can prove these things as well as disprove them depending on your presentation. - Dann |
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LukeB Loyal user 294 Posts |
Gregg Braden and his book The Divine Matrix will be right up your alley.
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DN777 Veteran user 360 Posts |
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JustinCredible28 Loyal user Seattle 217 Posts |
I recommend "The First Psychic: The Peculiar Mystery of a Victorian Wizard" by Peter Lamont. It is an interesting read on Daniel Dunglas Home-- namely, the feats he peformed as well as the controversies that surrounded him. Pick it up if you can find it!
"a distorted reality is now a necessity to be free. . ." -- Elliott Smith
http://www.NWFortuneTeller.com |
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The Feegee Mermaid Loyal user 203 Posts |
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mindmagic Inner circle London 1740 Posts |
Most books on the paranormal are biased in one direction or the other. Two I can specifically recommend as being reasonably objective and authoritative:
The Reality of the Paranormal by Prof. Arthur J Ellison Explaining the Unexplained by Prof Hans J Eysenck and Carl Sargent Both are available secondhand. Barry |
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tiriri Loyal user Ecuador 247 Posts |
I have seen and read a good number of books on the paranormal. I think some of them are useless and pure blah blah. Others very interesting with information that could definitely improve and help in a bizarre magic presentation, and there are also some books with techniques that, I believe, can actually be used in cold reading and other parts of the show.
For example, I used once an aura reading technique I learned in a book by Robert B. Stone, for cold reading in a mentalism show, and it went very well, impressing the public a lot. Giovanni. |
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Logan Five Inner circle Northern California 1434 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-11-03 23:18, LukeB wrote: This book is excellent...
Self concept is destiny..
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ddyment Inner circle Gibsons, BC, Canada 2499 Posts |
If you liked The Secret, you'll like The Divine Matrix, which is very much the same sort of "message" book.
I had the impression, though, that micromega123 was looking for something more substantial.
The Deceptionary :: Elegant, Literate, Contemporary Mentalism ... and More :: (order "Calculated Thoughts" from Vanishing Inc.)
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Erdnase27 Inner circle 2505 Posts |
When I was 13 and didn't know about mentalism I had the book:
how to develop your paranormal abilities. I had succes with it(luck factor) and its great to read. "that psychokeniss excists, was proven to scientists my psychic Uri geller" hehe , its outdated but good nevertheless. recommended! I thought this was the book, not sure.. http://www.bol.com/nl/p/boeken/oefenboek......dex.html 12 years ago |
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caycemindreader Regular user UK 107 Posts |
Arthur C Clarkes World of Strange Powers and Mysterious World books are good crash courses and should spark off some further research / presentation ideas.
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mentalskeptic Regular user Hollywood, CA 148 Posts |
There is tons. On the skeptical side of things, with good ideas for scripting and background that every mentalist should know:
The Elusive Quarry: A Scientific Appraisal of Psychical Research, by Ray Hyman Charles Forte: The Man Who Invented the Paranormal by Steinmeyer Flim-Flam! : The Truth About Unicorns, Parapsychology, and Other Delusions by James Randi A Skeptic's Handbook of Parapsychology by Paul Kurtz (anthology of great pieces on the paranormal) Skeptical Odysseys : Personal Accounts by the World's Leading Paranormal Inquirers also by Paul Kurtz In Search of the Light : The Adventures of a Parapsychologist by Susan Blackmore Debates on the Meaning of Life, Evolution, and Spiritualism put out by Prometheus Books Guidelines for Testing Psychic Claimants by Richard Wiseman The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark by Carl Sagan Pseudoscience and the Paranormal by Terence Hines Did Adam and Eve Have Navels?: Debunking Pseudoscience by Martin Gardner Science and Supernature : A Critical Appraisal of Parapsychology by James Alcock Readings in Pseudoscience and the Paranormal which ic a college psychology textbook Science Confronts the Paranormal and The Paranormal Borderlands of Science, both by Kendrick Frazier (editor of Skeptical Inquirer) Also, you should explore the Joe Nickel titles such as: Adventures in Paranormal Investigation, Real-Life X-Files: Investigating the Paranormal, The Mystery Chronicles: More Real-Life X-Files, Looking for a Miracle: Weeping Icons, Relics, Stigmata, Visions & Healing Cures, Secrets of the Sideshows, Entities: Angels, Spirits, Demons, and Other Alien Beings, Secrets of the Supernatural: Investigating the World's Occult Mysteries, Psychic Sleuths: Esp and Sensational Cases, and Inquest on the Shroud of Turin: Latest Scientific Findings, Missing Pieces : How To Investigate Ghosts, UFOs, Psychics, and Other Mysteries, etc etc, all of which would be useful as background or to give scripting ideas. On the more credulous side of things: Phenomenon: Everything You Need to Know About The Paranormal by Sylvia Browne (much of this is thought to have been lifted from other sources, such as Joe Nickel) The Secret by Rhonda Byrne (reprehensible, but good background) Almost all the books by Deepak Chopra and Wayne Dyer Reference: Harper's Encyclopedia of Mystical & Paranormal Experience The Encyclopedia of the Paranormal by Gordon Stein (skeptical, but extensive histories on the various domains of inquiry. Highly recommended.) The Paranormal Sourcebook: A Complete Guide to All Things Otherwordly Fortean Times Skeptical Inquirer magazine, and the Skeptic (you can get back issues cheaply on eBay -- Skeptical Inquirer over the years has featured articles written by some of the leading mentalists and magicians from 1976 onward. Great background.) Just FYI, many of these authors can be heard in in-depth interviews for free at http://www.pointofinquiry.org There are also episodes on these topics featuring Eugene Burger, Joe Nickel, James Randi, Max Maven, Jamy Ian Swiss, Bob Price, Richard Wiseman, Susan Blackmore, etc etc.
"Few have the courage of their convictions; fewer still, the courage for an attack on their convictions." — Nietzsche
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